March is a busy month for our horticultural programs as the gardens wake up and we get to work updating our demonstration areas at the office, answer the spring gardening questions of our communities, and go out to educate around the county. Even more exciting is the preparations underway for the 2024 Clay County Fair. Here is a listing of our upcoming events this March:

• UF/IFAS Extension Clay County Master Gardener Volunteers host a help desk every month of the Orange Park Farmers Market at the Orange Park Town Hall at the corner of Kingsley and Route 17. The event runs from 10am to 3pm and it is usually held on the first Sunday of each month. Come visit us on Sunday March 3^rd with your plant questions!
• March, 25^th, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Monthly How-To Series, topic “How to Fertilize”. Free course located at our office at 2463 SR 16W, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.
• March 26^th, 6:00pm- Master Gardener Library Series at the Orange Park Library, class is entitled “How to Attract Butterflies, Birds, and Bees to Your Garden. Free class open to all.
• We host several online Horticulture courses, listed at https://ifas.catalog.instructure.com/?category%5Bid%5D=138894&category%5Bname%5D=UF%2FIFAS%20Extension%20Clay%20County .
  • Horticulture Happy Hour: Citrus: This new online course focuses on how you can grow citrus at your home and then use citrus products and mixology to create delicious drinks. Cost for the course is $10 and registration is open March 1^st, 2024 through May 1^st, 2024 and you have 30 days to complete. https://ifas-clay.catalog.instructure.com/courses/horticulture-happy-hour—citrus
  • Florida Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: Learn how to start vegetable gardening in Florida through this interactive online course. Cost is $10 and registration is open continually at https://ifas-clay.catalog.instructure.com/courses/florida-vegetable-gardening-for-beginners .
  • Landscaping for Lizards: This course teaches the basics of Florida-Friendly Landscaping and how this can be used to support lizards and other reptiles in your yards. This also does include information on native and invasive Florida lizards. This course is free and registration is open continually at https://ifas-clay.catalog.instructure.com/courses/landscaping-for-lizards–february-2021
  • Planting Properly: Establishing Landscape Plants and Trees: Learn how to plant and establish landscape trees and shrubs through this free online course. Registration is available at https://ifas-clay.catalog.instructure.com/courses/planting-properly-establishing-landscape-plants-and-trees .
  • On March 15^th, there will be a re-launch of the Gardening for Native Pollinators online course, link and information will be forthcoming through our social media and blog site.
• Finally, while it opens next month remember to come see our UF/IFAS Extension Clay County Master Gardener Volunteers during the fair in both the Horticulture Exhibit building at our landscaping display and in the garden in the Early Florida Village. They will be happy to answer any gardening questions you have and let you know about these amazing displays and exhibits.

If you have any questions about any of our upcoming programs, just email me at whhobbs@ufl.edu.

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